Benin prepare for 'historic' role in Messi's Argentina farewell

Lionel Messi will earn his 208th cap for Argentina in the friendly against Benin

Twenty-one years after Lionel Messi helped Argentina beat Nigeria in the Under-20 World Cup final, another African side will be on the pitch for the final match of his international career.

Benin face Argentina at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday in a farewell match for the 39-year-old.

For Benin assistant coach Tunde Adelakun, there is a neat symmetry to the occasion.

"I was physically there when they beat Nigeria in the final, where he was the most valuable player in that tournament.

"It's an absolute pleasure that, when he is drawing the curtain on his international career, Benin will be part of that."

Messi announced his international retirement on 31 August after Argentina's defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

Argentina's most-capped player and record goalscorer has scored 125 times in 207 senior internationals.

The Argentine Football Association has organised Tuesday's match as a farewell for its captain, with members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad also invited to the celebrations.

For Benin, ranked 93rd in the world and yet to qualify for a World Cup, the invitation came as a surprise.

"Everybody was absolutely ecstatic," Adelakun says.

"It came at a time when we were right in the middle of preparation for two very important qualifying games for the Africa Cup of Nations."

Benin drew 1-1 away to Burkina Faso before beating Mauritania 2-1 in their opening two qualifiers.

Head coach Gernot Rohr says his side will enjoy "a bit of a party with Messi", but has stressed that they are not travelling to Buenos Aires simply to make up the numbers.

In his six World Cup appearances, Messi played against five African countries, including three, (Algeria, Cape Verde and Egypt) at the 2026 tournament in North America.

There is history behind the African connection to Messi's international career.

On 2 July 2005 in Utrecht, an 18-year-old Messi scored two penalties as Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 to win the Under-20 World Cup.

He finished the tournament as its leading scorer and was awarded the Golden Ball as its best player.

Three years later, Messi faced Nigeria in another final.

Argentina won Olympic gold at Beijing 2008 with a side featuring Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero and Javier Mascherano. Di Maria scored the only goal as Nigeria took silver.

At senior World Cups, Messi has played African opposition six times.

Nigeria faced him in 2010, 2014 and 2018, before Argentina met Algeria, Cape Verde and Egypt during their run to the 2026 final.

Rohr was Nigeria coach for the last of those three meetings with the Super Eagles, a 2-1 Argentina victory in Russia in which Messi scored the opening goal.

The German has been in charge of Benin since 2023 and has described Tuesday's match as a "historic moment".

Adelakun also traces his own connection to Messi back to that 2005 final.

For Benin, however, facing Argentina will be a first.

Benin captain Steve Mounié has been part of the national side since 2015, but injury means he will not be able to play in Buenos Aires.

That has not stopped him making the journey.

When he realised he would miss the match, Mounié says his immediate reaction was: "Oh no, I'm going to miss the game."

He ultimately paid for his own ticket to ensure he could be there and hopes to sit on the bench with the Benin staff.

"Football is my passion," he says. "I cannot miss a game."

For Adelakun, the fixture is also an opportunity for Benin's players to perform on an unusually large global stage.

"I have continually told these players that this is a good showcase for them," he says.

Mounié agrees.

He hopes the match can "show the world that Benin can play football", describing a team built on collective effort.

"We fight. We are a team like a family," he says.

Adelakun says supporters at home are more excited by the occasion than preoccupied with the score.

"I don't think many people are even talking about what the result will be," he says.

"What we are thinking about is the fact that Benin is being brought on to the international football map in this very big way."

Tunde Adelakun says it's a rare privilege to witness the end of Messi's international journey from the same pitch.

For Adelakun, Messi's longevity and mentality are as significant as the trophies and goals.

"He is the very best of them all," he says.

"I wish he was African."

But Mounié is not expecting Benin's players to spend the final whistle fighting over one famous souvenir.

Asked whether they will chase Messi's shirt, the captain says the moment should belong to the Argentine.

"If I was him, I wouldn't give my jersey to anyone, to be honest," he says.

"He needs to enjoy this moment as a football player, and he deserves to have a moment where he just enjoys."